After a 30-year absence, Maurice Sendak returns to the world of children's writing and illustrating with Bumble-Ardy.
Sendak, known for his classic children's picture books including Where the Wild Things Are [HarperCollins, 1963, ISBN 0060254920) and In the Night Kitchen [HarperCollins , 1970, ISBN 9780756992989], has garnered controversy for much of his career. Where the Wild Things Are elicited criticism due to its artwork, with many arguing that the monsters in the story were too scary for a child. Others argued that the book might have a negative psychological effect on a child that identified with the protagonist Max's wild behavior. Challengers of In the Night Kitchen often cited the nudity depicted in much of the book, as well as what some consider to be phallic imagery.
Critics Object to Grotesque Pictures
With Bumble-Ardy [HarperCollins, 2011, ISBN 978-0062051981], the now 83-year-old Sendak, finds himself steeped in controversy once again.
The book tells the story of an 8-year-old pig, Bumble, an orphan whose birthday has never been celebrated. Bumble's ninth birthday is quickly approaching, and he is desperate to celebrate it. His caretaker, Aunt Adeline, agrees to recognize his birthday, buying her nephew a new cowboy outfit and planning a nice dinner. But Bumble takes things a step further, inviting a host of other swine to come over for a party with lots of brine while Aunt Adeline is at work. Chaos, of course, ensues.
The controversy surrounding Bumble-Ardy stems largely from Sendak's illustrations. Bumble's party is a costume party, and the many swine who attend wear large masks. The party attendees often look distorted in Sendak's illustrations, creating grotesque imagery. One Amazon.com reviewer of the children's book wrote, "While I appreciate some dark art I was really just looking for a great book to share with our children. For us, this wasn't it."
The text of the story also has stirred protestations. At the very beginning of the story, the reader finds out what happened to Bumble's parents. Sendak wrote, "But when Bumble was eight/ (Oh pig-knuckled fate!)/ his immediate family gorged and gained weight./ And got ate." Some critics argue that death should not be a subject children are faced with so abruptly in a picture book.
The subject of death appears again later in the story, this time in the form of a personal threat. When Aunt Adeline discovers the party at her home, she screams, "I'll give you pigs till number 9/ to scat, get lost, vamoose, just scram!/ Or else I'll slice you into ham." Once the party attendees leave, she forces Bumble to say he'll never have another party. He replies, "I promise!/ I swear!/ I won't ever turn ten!"
Sendak Answers His Critics
In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Sendak explained the presence of death in his story. "When I did Bumble-Ardy, I was so intensely aware of death," he said. "Eugene, my friend and partner, was dying here in the house... I did 'Bumble-Ardy' to save myself. I did not want to die with him."
In a separate interview with The Atlantic, Sendak said he doesn't really write for children at all. "How do you write for children? I really have never figured that out. So I decided to just ignore it. I knew that my books would only be published as children's books. And I once objected fiercely to that. I wanted Outside Over There [Harper Collins, 1981, ISBN 9780064431859] to be realized as a complex work of art. Well, it wasn't. And I had to live with that," he said.
He continued later in the interview, "So I have many arguments about what they deem appropriate or inappropriate for children. I guess without meaning to, I have been inappropriate. No, not on my terms--on their terms. But it's not important. It's not important."
Sendak's description of his own work as something he does not necessarily write for children leaves the choice up to parents as to whether Bumble-Ardy is something to be read before bedtime. At 83, Sendak lives knowing he is one of the most challenged and celebrated children's authors of all time. Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen are two of his most beloved books as well as two of the most challenged. It remains to be seen if Bumble-Ardy will enjoy the same success on these illustrious and sometimes infamous lists.
Ashley Wilbourn Pinciaro - Ashley Pinciaro received a M.A. in journalism from Emerson College in 2009 and has since worked for media platforms throughout New ...
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